Lavender -The Fragrant Herb
I think that by far, the most favored herb, is Lavender. It could be because of
it’s alluring fragrance, or it’s wonderful way with skin and hair, it’s antibacterial
proprieties…to me the uses for this fragrant perrennial herb, is endless.
Upon my windowsill, overlooking the Verrazano Bridge, I have a wondrous
lavender plant. When I look at it, I remember that the roots are twice the size
of the plant itself!
Anyone can grow lavender indoors or outdoors. I grow it indoors, since I have no
backyard. But that doesn’t matter at all! You can still create lovely scenery!
Lavender is a sociable herb, so you can plant it with other herbs such as sage,
oregano, and rosemary. These are the herbs growing with my lavender at the
moment.
Lavender flowers in the fall, and requires a nice sunny dry area to call home.
I water mine about every day in the hot summer and in the autumn and winter
about 2 times a week. Remember to keep an empty spray bottle near by to fill
up with water, and give it a light misting every day-especially if you live in a hot
climate. But please -any other time, I would totally recommend reusing your
items, but in this case, don’t use hairspray or body spray bottles. Just purchase a new one at any local drug store. And with the planter -don’t forget that you do
need some drainage. That is one of the most important things to remember for
indoor plants. Each flower stem has to be harvested just when the flowers start
to open up. At this point the essential oils are at their peak.
Dry them by tying them in small bunches and hanging in a dry, warm place.
Another method is to take small amounts of the cut herbs and warp them
loosely in some newspaper. Tie a string around the middle of the paper, and
hang it in a warm spot.
You can grow lavender straight from the cuttings! So if you’ve got a friend with
a lavender plant, snip away (get permission from your friend of course).
Remember that Lavender does need to be pruned, but easy does it.
Lavender is a great stress and headache reliever! One of my favorite things to do, is to make my own foot powder. I make a base of rice flour; let’s say 3 parts rice flour, to about 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch. Then crush some
lavender flowers in your coffee grinder (though I do suggest you get a proper
coffee grinder just for your herbs). [1] Mix them all together, and it is marvelous
for your feet!
The lavender buds, mixed with marjoram, clove, carnation, betony, and rose
leaves and worn around the neck in a bag will cure a headache.
Lavender Hydrosol or lavender flower water is great for acne, to reduce puffiness
and to normalize the sebaceous glands. I myself use Lavender water as a toner.
I mix a bit with honey, and a bit of vinegar, and that is what I use for my acne
prone skin!
Also, when I have had a very stressful or busy week, I get my aroma lamp and
some lavender oil, take a nice long bubble bath, and do some aroma in the tub
while I scrub!
Another tip, is that if you would like to make your own bubble bath, you sure can! Get some cheap, unscented dollar shampoo, or some dishwashing liquid, add a few tablespoons of caster oil, and a bit of lavender essential oil, and there you have it!
If you have a way with sewing machines, you can get some dried lavender , and
make sew yourself a sachet, and fill it with lavender buds!
Recipes/Formulas/Uses
[3] French Lavender Sleep Cocktail
60 fresh lavender leaves
4 oz. Glass jar with screw top
4 oz. Vodka
5 inch square cheese cloth
4 oz. Amber glass bottle with screw top
1 ½ oz. Distilled water
In the glass jar, combine the lavender and vodka. Set aside in a cool, dark place
for 2 weeks to extract the healing essences from the lavender leaves. Agitate the jar, once a day. Place the cheese cloth in a fine-gauge sieve. Strain the tincture
into the amber glass bottle. Discard the spent herb. In a small drinking glass
combine a half ounce of tincture and an ounce of half distilled water. Stir. Drink
just before you retire. Repeat until your normal sleep pattern returns.
Anti-Stretchmark Oil
3 drops each of frankincense and myrrh essential oil;
6 drops of lavender essential oil;
4 drops of geranium essential oil;
2 fl oz of Calendula Carrier Oil.
Apply to affected areas morning and night
Lavender Massage Oil
1 part lavender essential oil
3 parts olive oil
Make up two bowls of water, one hot and one cold, and add the following to both:
Lavender 2 Drops
Rosemary 3 Drops
Geranium 1 Drops
Soak a washcloth in each bowl and apply them alternately to the bruise and
surrounding area. Then apply a small amount of the following oil:
Geranium 2 Drops
Rosemary 2 Drops
Lavender 1 Drop
Diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.
Headaches
Lavender 10 Drops
Chamomile 10 Drops
Geranium 10 Drops
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A nerve disorder in the hands and arms. It usually affects people that work a lot
with their hands, such as secretaries, hairdressers, painters, mechanics and the like. Massage both hands, arms, and shoulders twice a day:
Marjoram 10 Drops
Lavender 10 Drops
Eucalyptus 10 Drops
Diluted in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
[1] Taken from Jeanne Rose’s Herbal by Jeanne Rose
[3] Adapted from Jeanne Rose’s Herbal by Jeanne Rose
[4] The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
by Valerie Ann Worwood
